Chad Pennington throws for score and wildcat helps Dolphins beat Panthers 27-17

Pennington, wildcat help Dolphins beat Panthers

MIAMI — Chad Pennington threw well from the pocket and also from the flanker position.

The wildcat was back Saturday night, contributing to a strong showing by the Miami Dolphins’ first-team offense in a 27-17 victory over Carolina.

The Dolphins (2-0) scored 10 points in Pennington’s three series. He went 8 for 11 for 105 yards, throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ronnie Brown and hitting Patrick Cobbs for a 35-yard gain out of the wildcat.

The Dolphins’ variation of the single wing also produced 18 yards in four running plays, with running back Brown taking the snap each time.

Carolina’s starters scored for the first time in the exhibition season when DeAngelo Williams broke four tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage, on a 25-yard touchdown run.

Carolina (0-2) committed only one turnover after having five in its opener, a loss to the New York Giants. But the Panthers’ run defense was soft for the second game in a row.

The wildcat rejuvenated the Dolphins last season, but they had kept it mostly under wraps in training camp before springing it on Carolina. The most elaborate play from the formation was a double handoff and pass, with Pennington coming off the flank to throw deep to a wide-open Cobbs.

That led to a field goal.

The Dolphins drove 60 yards on their first possession and scored on Pennington’s pass to Brown, who caught the ball at the 15 and juked past a defender.

Brown also carried seven times for 31 yards, and Ricky Williams carried three times for 21 yards, all in the opening half.

“We did a nice job up front up and we made some nice runs in the first half,” Miami coach Tony Sparano said. “We moved the ball really good on the ground.”

The Panthers’ first team converted two third-and-long situations on a 70-yard drive that ended with Williams’ touchdown. That was Carolina’s only score in three series with Jake Delhomme, who finished 5 for 7 for 47 yards.

Decori Birmingham scored on a 2-yard run for the Panthers after they recovered a fumble on a punt return. Carolina rookie Captain Munnerlyn had a 58-yard punt return but fumbled on a later runback.

Receiver Muhsin Muhammad sat out for Carolina because of a sore leg. Middle linebacker Jon Beason left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury.

Miami’s Lex Hilliard scored on a 39-yard run, and backup quarterback Chad Henne threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Joe Kowalewski.

Dolphins first-round draft pick Vontae Davis, who had a rough opening game, showed his run-stopping ability and made three tackles on the flank.

Davis started in place of fellow rookie Sean Smith, scratched after coming down with flulike symptoms. Reserve defensive back Jason Allen sat out for the same reason.